Package



R. K. HART Nov. 20, 1962 PACKAGE Filed July 16, 1959 v INVENTOR 05597 KH/mr BY M,

ATTORNEY J/ United States Patent 3,064,800 PACKAGE Robert K. Hart, Short Hills, NJ., assignor to Abbott-Lane Industries, Inc, Merrick, Long Island, New York Filed July 16, 1959, Ser. No. 827,600 1 Clairn. (Cl. 206-42) This invention relates to packages and, more particularly, to a package for holding water soluble pellets.

It has been found that water soluble pellets of a particular composition are usable when dissolved in water as an all purpose cleaner. The solution formed from a dissolved pellet is usable for cleaning windows, television screens, mirrors, Windshields, tile, etc.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to package such pellets in a separate vial type container and attach this vial to a larger container which is used to hold the solution containing a dissolved pellet. After the solution is prepared by dissolving a pellet, the formed solution is spray pumped means of hand operated suction pump. When all the formed solution in the container has been used, a fresh batch may be made by merely adding water to the container and dropping another of the pellets into the water. Thus, a supply of say ten pellets and a container gives the consumer the equivalent of ten bottles of prepared cleaning solution.

The packaging of the pellets in a separate vial has many shortcomings. A separate pellet vial when taped to the side of a solution container increases the space required for packaging the combination and reduces the number of units which may be shipped in a standard carton. The loss of valuable shipping space due to the odd shape overcomes some of the saving in shipping expense which is gained by shipping only the pellets and the container and not liquid as is the practice with many other well known cleaners.

Further, in retail marketing the combination, the container and the attached pellet vial take up more shelf space than a container without the protruding vial.

There is still another shortcoming in this attached vial type of packaging. The vials must be capable of being easily stripped from the solution container in order to be merchantable. However, these vials may also be just as easily removed by unscrupulous and pilfering persons. Such pilfering causes a loss to the retailer and makes him reluctant to stock such an item.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and unique package for holding water soluble pellets. It is another object to provide a package for holding pellets which may be ailixed to a bottle or other container and not increase the amount of space required for shipping the composite unit.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a package for pellets which is not easily piliered. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a package for pellets which is water proof so that the pellets are not eflected by any moisture which may accumulate on the surface of the package.

Although in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and the same is described in detail in the specification, is to he understood that this embodiment is not intended to be either exhaustive or limiting of the invention, but, on the contrary, it is chosen for the purpose of illustrating the invention in order that others skilled in the art may so fully understand the invention, its principles and the application thereof, that they may embody it and adapt it in numerous forms, each as may be best suited to the requirements of the particular use.

In the drawings:

from the container as required by side wall 28 is formed with registers with ice FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention wherein a package of pellets is shown attached to a solution bottle;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pellet package; and

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of the pellet package with the lid pressed into the pan portion.

Referring to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 in particular, a container 10 suitable for holding a cleaning solution is shown. The illustrated container 10 has a large body portion 12 and a narrow neck portion 14. The neck 14 is of the screw type in order to receive a cap 16 which is fitted over the open top neck.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGURE 1, the cap 16 has a spray pump 18 extending therethrough and into the body portion 12 of the container. The spray pump 18 is hand activated and it sprays the solution 20 by pushing the pump rod down and letting it rise by spring means, thus causing a suction effect.

About the neck 14 a collar like package 22 is fitted. This collar 22, as shown in greater detail in FIGURE 2, contains a supply of water soluble pellets which are used in making the cleaning solution 20 as discussed hereinbefore.

The collar 22 is comprised of a pan portion 24 and a lid 26; the pan 24 being comprised of a bottom wall 27, a side wall 28, and an annular center wall 30, the center wall 30 forming an opening 31 through the pan. The an annular groove 32 near its top portion 29 and this top portion 29 is flared outwardly to permit the lid 26 to fit easily into the pan 24. When the lid 26 is pressed into the pan 24 it snaps into the groove 32 to form a tightly closed package. An opening 33 is provided in the lid 26' and this opening 33 the opening 31 through the pan 24.

The pan 24 and the lid 26 are advantageously manufactured from a flexible material so that the lid 26 may be more easily fitted into the groove 32.

A tab 34 is provided on the lid 26 and this tab provides quick means for removing the lid 26 from the pan 24.

In preparing the combined unit shown in FIGURE 1, a supply of pellets 36 is deposited in ring fashion in the pan 24 and the lid 26 is then snapped into place. The collar 22 is next fitted about the neck 14 of the container 10; preferably with the lid 26 adiacent the body 12, thus increasing the waterproofing characteristics of the package. The cap 16 is screwed on to the neck 14 and since the diameter of the cap 16 is slightly greater than that of the pan opening 31, the collar 22 can not be removed without first removing the cap 16. Thus, pilfering of the collar 22 with its supply of pellets 36 is discouraged as most pilferers will not expose themselves to the added risk of unscrewing the cap in order to obtain the pellets.

The assembled container 10 with the cap 16 and the collar 22 presents a compact and attractive combination package. The pellets, which are arranged in ring like fashion in the collar 22, give a daisy like appearance and enhance the attractiveness of the combination package. The pan and the lid are preferably of transparent material so that the user may be easily aware of the number of pellets remaining in the collar.

It will be seen that applicant has provided a unique package for pellets which may be used to form a supply of cleaning solution by merely dropping a pellet into a container of water. When the solution in the container is exhausted a fresh of the readily available pellets found in the collar 22. Thus, the pellets are always there when needed and in dry condition due to the tight construction of the collar.

It is to be understood that while the present invention batch may be made by using one may be constructed in accordance with the embodiment as set forth herein and as defined 'in the accompanying claim, it is to be anticipated that embodiments other than that set forth herein may be constructed, but not without being within the spirit and scope of the accompanying claim.

I claim:

A substantially mo'istureproo'f package for containing water soluble pellets and the like and adapted to :betfitted about the neck of a container, said ipackage comprising a pan and a lid, said'pan having a side wall, a bottom wall, and a center wallrdefining a central opening through said pan, said side walls having an annular groove in the upperportion thereof, said lid being fitted into andjrecessed in said pan between the bottom wall and the outer extent of the center wall and the outer edge .of said lid engaging therannular groove in the side wall .of the pan, said .lid having .a central opening therein corresponding to the opening defined by the annular center wall of said pm, "said lid having a tab portion extending therefrom,

the center wall and fitted into the annular groove of v the side wall and said package anay' be fitted about the neck of a container.

'Referenc'es'Cite'd in the 'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,889,111 Serr Nov. 29, 1932 2,250,666 Godefioy July 29, 1941 2,271,943 Klein .et a1. Feb. 3, 1942 2,409,279 Hillel Oct. 15, 1946 2,591,578 .McNealy Apr. 1,1952 2,710,709 Bowers .& June 14, '1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 149,490 Austria Dec. 15, 1936 578,736 Great Britain July 10, 1946 1,083,281 France 7 Jan. 6, 19'55 

